Rifle mounted grenade catapult



Sept. 18, 1956 B. B. scoTT -`2,763,255

RIFLE MOUNTED GRENADE CATAPULT Filed Oct. 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 18, 1956 B. B. SCTT RIFLE MOUNTED GRENADE CATAPULT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O 2,163,256 RIFLE MOUNTED GRENADE -CATAPULT Billy B. seen, Independence, M0.

Application .October 20, 1.953, Serial No. 387,147

1 claim. (ci. 124-475 lThis inventionrelates to the class of weapons, and vmore partieularlyvto anovel grenade catapult adapted sto be used in combinationY with `a riile or like small arms. "The primary Vobject of vthis `invention resides in the provision of a catapult for grenades that is capable of being readily and easily attached to Various existing types of rifles and other small arms in a manner so as to enable the weapon to be used in conjunction with a loaded rie so that optionally a bullet may be propelled or a grenade may be thrown at the target.

One of the features of the construction of this invention resides in the provision of means for adjusting the ultimate range that the grenade will be thrown. Other objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of means for automatically removing the release pin of the grenade. The grenade catapult is so positioned that it will not hinder the line of sight utilizing the conventional mechanical sights of the rie so that simultaneously or optionally, a grenade may be thrown at the target by aiming the rifle and a bullet may likewise be projected at such target.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a grenade catapult that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being installed on most makes and models of small arms, and which is highly eifective in use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this grenade catapult, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: v

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the manner in which the grenade catapult is operatively installed on a rifle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating in phantom lines the position of the catapult after release;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2 illustrating the resilient means used for actuating the lever of the catapult;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 3 and illustrating the manner in which the catapult is secured to the riile:

Figure 5 is a sectional detail View in an enlarged scale as taken along the plane of line 5 5 of Figure 1 and illustrating the trigger means for releasing the catapult;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 3 and illustrating the means for presetting the range of the device; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view as taken along the plane of line 7-7 in Figure 5, further illustrating the trigger means.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a rie of conventional construction 2,763,256 Ll Patented sept.' 1e, '195e ice providedwith a 'barrel 12 secured on a stock A14l and hav- "ing mechanical sights suchas indicated at 16 and 18. The

.,in, Figure 4Y which are adaptedv to -be clampingly secured Vabon't'lthe stock Y14andfbarrel 12 and held in place by a suitable threaded fastener -as at 26. The fastener 26 lockingly-holds thelower portion of the brackets 22 and "24 in Iplaceon the rifle 10, the upper portions thereof'being held inposition by means of a shaft 28 which is journ'aled in the brackets 22 and'24.

The shaft l28 is providedwith aknurled enlarged head 30 'and has a pawl 32 attached thereto. The other end of the'shaft 28 is of substantially reduced diameter, as at "34, and `is threaded asy at 36 for reception -of a lock nut .38 holding a collar 40 thereon. `A coil spring 42 is ,positioned concen'treallywith ythe substantially reduced portion 34 and biases the collar 40 and the side portion 44 of the bracket 22 to hold the catapult 20 on the rie 10. The side portion 46 of the bracket 24 is provided with a plurality of outwardly struck detents 48 which are adapted to be selectively engaged by the pawl 32.

The shaft 28 has one end of a comparatively strong spring 50 attached thereto, the other end of the spring, as at 52, engaging and being positioned beneath the lever 54, the ears 56 of which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 28. The free end of the lever 54 is provided with a grenade receiving receptacle 58 of concave, substantially dish-shape.

Attached to the receptacle 58 is a substantialy L-shaped sear 60 which is adapted to be lockingly held in a lower position by means of a spring 61 pressed trigger member'62 slidably mounted on a projecting portion 64 secured to the stock 14 of the rie 10. Hence, upon actuation of the trigger member 62, the horizontally extending portion 66 of the Lshaped sear 60 is released, thereby permitting the spring 50 to cause the lever 54 to move from the position as is shown in Figure 2 to the position as shown by the phantom lines in Figure 2. The movement of the lever 54 is limited by the stop members 68 and 78 attached to the side portions 44 and 46. ln order to remove the release pin 72 of a grenade 74 positioned within the receptacle 58, there is provided a latch member 75 which is attached to the pin 72 and also to an inverted L-shaped member 76 having a V-shaped recess 78 therein into which the latch 75 can be positioned. Hence, upon release of the trigger 62, the latch 75 will cause the pin 72 to be removed from the grenade.

It is to be noted that adjacent each of the detents 48 there is provided suitable indicia 80 indicative of the amount of tensioning of the spring 50. As can be readily understood, the amount of tensioning of the spring 50 can be controlled by rotating the shaft 28. This can be accomplished by pulling the head 30 outwardly so as to compress the spring 42 and then rotating the shaft 28 to the desired position, at which time the head 30 may be then pushed inwardly and interlocked with the selected detent 48. The range is, of course, predetermined by the amount of energy stored in the spring 50. Furthermore, it is within the concept of this invention to provide an adequate tool for increasing the leverage. It is to be recognized that the spring S0 is tensioned before the lever 54 is placed in a lowered condition.

In utilizing this device, it is merely necessary to aim the grenade 74 by aiming the rifle. The range is, of course, predetermined by the preset range on the indicia or scale 80, and of course, can be increased or decreased by elevating or depressing the rie 10.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages `of this grenade kcatapult yare readily apparent, f

further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since ynumerous modifications will readily' occur to those skilled in rthe art after a consideration ofy the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings,

`it is not intended to limit theinvention to the precise ernrbodiment sliownand described, but all suitablemodifica.'-A

`tions'and equivalents may be readily resorted to. f

, What is claimed as new is as follows:

A grenade catapult for use in'y combination with a rifle comprising al pair of brackets clampingly. secured about l the. rifleand having upwardly extending side portions, a

shaft journalled in said side portions and'llaving one end of a spring secured thereto, means for loekinglyholdingl f l said shaft in a selected position attached to one of said side portions, a lever rotatablymounted onsaid shaft, a

grenade receiving recepita'cle on ,they Ifree end of said' lever, the other end of said spring engaging said lever, trigger means for releasably 'holdng'said-leverin .a cocked position with said spring kunder tension, andfrn'eans at'- tached to said rie for disengaging the pin of a grenade when said trigger means-has released'said lever,lsaid means for lockingly holding said shaft in a selected posibrackets having stops thereon for limtingthemovementof said lever after release by said trigger means, said tion comprisinga'headed knob'attached to'saidshafna pawl' attached to said shaft, anda plurality of detents attached to said one of .said side portions, said pawl selec` tively'engaging one of said detents, said shaft having a portion of reduced diameter extending through the other f of said side portions, a collar on said portion of reduced diameter, and a'y coil yspring disposedconcentricwith they l portion of reduced diameter biasing said collar and said other of said side portions apart whereby the pawl is'urged t f into engagement withsaid Ioneof' said' side portions andl the pair of brackets is held on the rifle. l

RefereneesCited in the tile ofz this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

